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USSA TEAM Academy in Session

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USSA

2012-10-22 14:48

USSA TEAM Academy at the Center of Excellence Photo: Sarah Brunson/USSA

PARK CITY, Utah (Oct. 22) – School is in session across the country, including at the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association’s new USSA TEAM Academy.The innovative new high school program opened its doors this fall under the Olympic governing body for skiing and snowboarding, designed to enhance its Best in the World athletic vision with the new academic program. The Academy features a cutting-edge blended educational model using a mix of classroom and technology with teachers to manage customized curriculum while athletes train and compete at the sport’s highest level. Nearly two dozen elite team student athletes are enrolled in the inaugural program on campuses at the USSA Center of Excellence in Park City, UT and with USSA’s Elite Aerial Development Program (EADP) in Lake Placid, NY.

HIGHLIGHTS

The USSA TEAM Academy (Total Educational and Athletic Model) opened its doors at both the USSA Center of Excellence in Park City and with the USSA’s Elite Aerial Development Program (EADP) in Lake Placid, NY this fall with 22 elite team student athletes.

The unique U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association program is designed to enhance its Best in the World athletic vision with an academic program that fully supports elite team training and competition programs.

The Academy was developed by the USSA to provide a strong academic solution to a growing number of high school-aged athletes in elite development and national team programs who are training and competing full-time with USSA's elite teams.

That growth has been fueled by new Olympic sports in freeskiing and snowboarding, plus a directed effort by the USSA to drive higher-level athletic development programs in alpine ski racing down into U16 and U18 age categories.

The TEAM Academy facilitates full integration of these elite team athletes into USSA's high performance programming.

The Academy features a unique blended learning model mixing traditional, hands-on classroom learning with technology-driven education – all powered by DeVry Inc.’s Advanced Academics rigorous online curriculum and instruction, providing powerful learning tools and customized classes both in the classroom, as well as in the field while the athletes are traveling for training and competition.

Athletes qualified for any of USSA's elite teams – across all of its skiing and snowboarding disciplines – are eligible for participation in the TEAM Academy.

USSA officials anticipate as many as 40 high school-aged student athletes in national elite programs by 2015. The Academy was developed specifically to address that growing demand.

The Academy will be a lead-in to the USSA’s already-existing academic partnerships at the college level including Westminster College and others.

Educational consultant Dan Kemp was retained to develop and manage the program as headmaster, bringing 20 years of multi-faceted educational experience in building startup schools. His focus has always been on a holistic approach looking at the whole student – not just a basic classroom education.

QUOTESBill Marolt, President and CEO, USSAAs an Olympic sports organization, we are focused on athletic performance but also prioritize the development of the whole person. The USSA TEAM Academy supports our Best in the World athletic vision but also provides elite team level student athletes coming from USSA clubs nationwide with an innovative platform to build broad personal skills.

Luke Bodensteiner, Executive Vice President, Athletics, USSAStrong athlete education, career development and life skills programs enhance an athlete's competitive performance. We've established the USSA TEAM Academy to allow our elite team athletes to take full advantage of the training and competition programs both at the Center of Excellence and in the field at our various training and competition locations worldwide, without having to sacrifice their academic development.

Dan Kemp, Headmaster, USSA TEAM AcademyThe Academy provides parents with a strong academic and athletic pathway for their sons or daughters by blending the best of the traditional classroom with the advantages of modern technology to create a cutting edge model that's ideally suited to elite athletes. It will provide a great education and prepare these student athletes to go on to a college of their choice. Further, the Academy provides an environment that is conducive to enriching their lives at this important age by continuing their vital academic foundation, social integration, and allows them, and their families, to continue to pursue their Olympic dreams!

About the U.S. Ski and Snowboard AssociationThe U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) is the national governing body of Olympic skiing and snowboarding. Developed to facilitate participation in national and international competition, the Olympic sports organization provides structure for competitive skiing and snowboarding. From grassroots programs to governance of sport, management of rules, competitions and athletic rankings, the USSA oversees athletic pipelines for development in the sports. With a vision to make the USA the best in the world in Olympic skiing and snowboarding, the USSA provides leadership and direction for tens of thousands of young skiers and snowboarders who share an Olympic dream while maintaining a strong adherence to core values. The USSA, established in 1905, operates out of the national training and education facility, the Center of Excellence, in Park City, UT. For more information, visit www.ussa.org.

About the USSA TEAM AcademyThe USSA TEAM Academy offers a Total Educational and Athletic Model (TEAM) to high school-aged elite student athletes. Based at the USSA’s Center of Excellence in Park City, Utah, and the Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid, NY, the school utilizes a blended model of live teaching and virtual learning to provide an educational solution. The educational model of the USSA TEAM Academy pairs traditional classroom education in the Center of Excellence with innovative technology-driven learning, allowing customizable programming to the needs of each elite student athlete.